Mayor Appoints New Police Chief Patrick Smith
Patrick Smith, a veteran administrator in the Los Angeles Police Department and a native of Tuscaloosa, is Birmingham’s new police chief. Mayor Randall Woodfin made the announcement today.
Smith replaces A.C. Roper who retired in February.
Smith says he is dedicated to building strong relationships in the community. In his initial remarks, Smith addressed concerns in the community and in the police department he will lead.
“During the course of this process, I’ve listened to your words. I’ve read your comments. I’ve read the stories, and I know what you are looking for in your chief of police,” he says. “ I want to make sure that I’m here to deliver.”
Smith says he will support police officers and will also need their support.
“We have a lot of hard work to do, and I don’t want you to take it lightly,” he says.
Homicides and some violent crimes have increased in Birmingham in recent months. Residents and city leaders have said they want that trend to end. The mayor has said he wants police to be more visible in the communities.
In addition to naming a police chief, Woodfin announced that Captain Allen Treadaway is being promoted to assistant chief. Treadaway leads the city’s East Police Precinct. He is also a state legislator.
Smith’s first day on the job as police chief is June 18.
Uruguay’s ex-President José Mujica, nicknamed ‘world’s poorest president,’ dies at 89
José Mujica, the charismatic former guerrilla fighter who later went on to lead Uruguay and became known as "the world's poorest president" for his austere lifestyle, has died at 89.
Cassie testifies against Sean Combs, and more updates from the trial
On the witness stand on Tuesday, the singer at the center of the prosecution's case said that Combs controlled most aspects of her life and career.
Sept. 11 turns life upside down for a ‘Happy Family’ in Ramy Youssef’s animated show
Youssef was in fifth grade and living in New Jersey when the Twin Towers fell. His new show, #1 Happy Family USA, draws on the experiences of his own Egyptian American family during that tense time.
RFK Jr. got rid of an ‘alphabet soup’ of health agencies. Now, Congress gets a say
On Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. goes to Capitol Hill to promote and defend his massive overhaul of HHS, and President Trump's plans to change it even more.
UnitedHealth Group abruptly replaces CEO Andrew Witty, deepening a terrible year
The health care conglomerate is facing mounting financial problems – and ongoing consumer anger over high costs and denied claims.
A matchmaking service with a twist: Connecting big givers to programs cut by USAID
A former USAID worker has a new mission. She's hoping to connect philanthropists with overseas programs that have lost — or are likely to lose — their U.S. funding.
